EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. XVIII. October, 190G. No. 2. 



The address of Mr. James J. Hill upon " The future of American 

 agriculture '" has attracted wide attention and connnent in the public 

 press. It was a notable address, showing thorough familiarity with 

 the improvident and wasteful methods that have characterized much 

 of our farming, and a full realization of impending dangers to the 

 future well l)eing — not of agriculture merely, but of all industry. 

 It was a powerful appeal for a greater degree of intelligence in farm- 

 ing operations and for placing the art on a more enlightened and 

 conservative basis. 



Coming from a man of national reputation as a shrewd and far- 

 seeing business manager and promoter, and presenting facts with a 

 vividness that startles, the address commands respect and enforces 

 thoughtfid consideration. It is this, rather than the originality of 

 the views advanced, which has served to attract public attention and 

 lend to it an influence which the conclusions of a less prominent man 

 would not have had. 



It is a hopeful sign when a man of great business interests is able 

 to recognize the economic value of scientific work to agriculture and 

 to appreciate the importance of the conservative methods it has 

 taught. AVhen such a man is willing to pause long enough in his 

 work of promotion and development to sound a note of Avarning that 

 arouses attention from coast to coast, agricultural experimentatioii 

 is conscious of having gained a strong ally and received a marked 

 impetus. Such a champion is w^orth much to the cause. 



Mr. Hill's intelligent appreciation of the problems of agricultural 

 production and the teachings of scientific study and experimentation 

 was no surprise to those who have known him. This was to be ex- 

 pected of a man who has taken sufficient interest in the establishment 

 of a substation in Minnesota to give three-quarters of a section of 

 land for it, who has lent his support to the movement for agricultural 

 schools in that State which resulted in favorable legislative action, 

 and who has carried thousands of farmers to the agricultural colleges 

 and experiment stations of Minnesota and Xorth Dakota especially, 

 free of charge or at nominal fare, that they might see the work done 

 there and be placed in position to profit by it. 



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